Check out this lovely video 'While We Can't Hug'. It is a story about Hedgehog and Tortoise, who cannot hug but found other ways to show each other they care. Can you think of other ways you could show someone you love or miss that you care? Maybe you could write them a letter, draw them a picture, bake for them, make a video... Click on the story to listen. Enjoy!
We have decided to introduce 'Wellness Wednesdays' as we are very aware of the impact of Covid-19 on our students and families. We need to make sure we are having fun, staying positive and looking after our mental health. We have decided that until we return to school, Wednesdays are for fun and formal school work will not be set. Check out some of the great activities below. Please e-mail pictures of the fun activities you do to your class teacher or to Ms. Murphy (lisak2711@yahoo.co.uk). We will add your photos to a slideshow each week and you can see what your friends are doing. Take care and most importantly have fun!
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Here are this week's Wellness Wednesday photos. Thank you girls for sharing them with us.
Please note that this slideshow may not work on some mobile devices. If you are unable to see it please change your browser to display "desktop site". |
Thank you for all of your beautiful photos. It is lovely to see you all. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful sunshine. Here are the beautiful photos we received from our girls for Wellness Wednesday this week.
Please note that this slideshow may not work on some mobile devices. If you are unable to see it please change your browser to display "desktop site".
Please note that this slideshow may not work on some mobile devices. If you are unable to see it please change your browser to display "desktop site".
Thank you for all your beautiful pictures last week. I hope everyone is enjoying Wellness Wednesday this week and you are all keeping safe. Remember to email in your photos to share all the fun you are having with us all.
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Here are some of the beautiful photos we received this week from Wellness Wednesday. It is lovely to see that you are all keeping busy and having so much fun! Keep the pictures coming.
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Please note that this slideshow may not work on some mobile devices. if you are unable to see it please change your browser to display "desktop site".
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I hope you are all keeping well in the current circumstances. I know this can be a challenging time for us all. I am sure you are all missing your friends, school and relatives. Hopefully we will all be back together soon. It is very important to keep doing what the government has asked of us.
Here are some useful links for parents to help explain Covid-19 to children.
lockdown_-social-story-1[25513].pdf
talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-covid-19-coronavirus-advice-for-parents-and-schools.pdf
I am sure you have lots of different feelings right now about Covid-19. This page will give you some ideas about how to deal with your feelings at this time, and ways you can help yourself and those around you feel calmer.
Here are some useful links for parents to help explain Covid-19 to children.
lockdown_-social-story-1[25513].pdf
talking-to-children-and-young-people-about-covid-19-coronavirus-advice-for-parents-and-schools.pdf
I am sure you have lots of different feelings right now about Covid-19. This page will give you some ideas about how to deal with your feelings at this time, and ways you can help yourself and those around you feel calmer.
Hope where are you?- Award-winning teachers Armand Doucet and Elisa Guerra have co-authored a book to help guide and support children. Backed by the Lego Foundation, the book tells the stories of six children around the world, and how they deal with the challenges.
The book aims to portray the voices of children and their particular stories during the Covid 19 pandemic. Click on the book to read the story.
The book aims to portray the voices of children and their particular stories during the Covid 19 pandemic. Click on the book to read the story.
Everybody Worries-Written and illustrated by Jon Burgerman
In this bright and friendly picture book, children learn that it’s okay to worry about coronavirus. Fun rhyming couplets keep the tone gentle and supportive, and you will find plenty of ideas for dealing with coronavirus in a positive way. Everybody Worries offers your child the reassuring message that this crisis will pass, we are there for them, and we will get through this together. Click on the book to read the story.
In this bright and friendly picture book, children learn that it’s okay to worry about coronavirus. Fun rhyming couplets keep the tone gentle and supportive, and you will find plenty of ideas for dealing with coronavirus in a positive way. Everybody Worries offers your child the reassuring message that this crisis will pass, we are there for them, and we will get through this together. Click on the book to read the story.
Click on the link to Nosy Crow and Alex Scheffler (the illustrator of The Gruffalo and many more Julia Donaldson books) have published a free e-book explaining in simple and reassuring terms what the virus is and what we can do to help slow the spread and look after each other. This book is useful for children 8+ Click on the book to read the story. (story at the bottom of webpage)
Mental Health Awareness Week 18th-24th May 2020
This week is Mental Health Awareness week and the theme this year is kindness. Kindness not only to others but to ourselves. Did you know that being kind to others actually makes us feel better and it can even make you live longer! Kindness reduces stress and improves our emotional well being. Maybe take time out this week to do something kind for others; help Mam or Dad around the house, play/share with your younger brothers or sisters, write a note or letter to someone you love. Don't forget to be kind to yourself too; eat well, get an early night, be active, do something you enjoy are some examples.
Walk in my Shoes
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This is a wellbeing programme for primary school children and it has a great range of resources to help you during this time. From wellbeing calendars to mindful podcasts there is something for everyone on this site. Click here to check it out. Here are some of our favourite resources which you can print from their website.
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The HSE webpage Mental Health Support Services for Young People lists a range of services and resources to help young people cope and manage themselves in the current crisis: Contacts for Jigsaw; BeLong To; Reach Out; Spunout; Childline; etc. are listed. Topics covered include exercise, managing routines, COVID-19 anxiety, family conflict, and staying connected. There are also resources for parents and guardians. Here are the links to two of these services.
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Feelings
We all have different thoughts and feelings at this time and it is okay to have these thoughts and feelings. Everybody has them. Thoughts and feelings are like storm clouds. They eventually move on and pass over, and the sun will come out again. Feelings come and go. If you are feeling anxious or sad at this time, try and talk to someone about how you are feeling, write your feelings down or try and find an activity you enjoy to do.
Here are some picture books that help us look at our feelings more closely. Click on the links below to hear the books being read.
Have you filled your bucket today?
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The Invisible String by Patrice Karst. |
The Way I feel by Janan Cain |
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Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival |
The Huge Bag of Worries by Virgina Ironside |
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Gratitude
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Being grateful for what we have right now can help us to feel good. Gratitude is a positive emotion and it is all about focusing on what’s good in our lives right now. It might be something that we take for granted like having a place to live, food to eat or clean water.
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1. Can you list out 5 things that you are thankful for right now? You could do this before you go to sleep at night. You might be thankful for having a bed to sleep in, for having food to eat today, for playing a game with someone at home, for chatting to a relative on the phone or maybe for having clothes to wear. These prompts might help;
I’m grateful for three things I hear:
I’m grateful for three things I see:
I’m grateful for three things I smell:
I’m grateful for three things I touch/feel:
I’m grateful for these three things I taste:
I’m grateful for these three animals/birds:
I’m grateful for these three friends:
I’m grateful for these three teachers:
I’m grateful for these three family members:
I’m grateful for these three things in my home:
2. If you prefer you could write down what you are grateful for every day and keep a Gratitude Journal.
3. You could write a thank you note to the people who live with you or have everybody in your house say one thing they are thankful for right now.
4.Write a letter or draw a picture to say thank you to all the doctors, nurses and carers that are working so hard in our hospitals. You could stick it up on your window for others to see.
5. Listen to a story about gratitude like this one Bear Says Thanks by Carma Wilson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUspp8k2Lh0
6.Watch this short video all about Gratitude here.
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Mindfulness
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Mindfulness is about focusing on what you are doing right now rather than worrying about the past or wondering about the future. It means giving your full attention to something. It means slowing down to really notice what you are doing. Here is a short video to help you understand what mindfulness is.
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Mindfulness is easy to practice in everyday life. You can do it anytime. For example the next time you are eating your dinner you can be mindful. Engage all your 5 senses, What does your food look like? What does it smell like? What texture does it have-squishy, hard, lumpy? How does it feel in your mouth-hot, cold, sweet or sour? What sounds can you hear when you are eating? Give it a go you might be surprised how different your food seems!
Our minds can have up to 60,000 thoughts a day! By being mindful or meditating we help to quieten down our mind and calm our bodies. A glitter jar can help to demonstrate this. Look at this short clip below which shows us how being still for a few minutes can quieten our mind.
Our minds can have up to 60,000 thoughts a day! By being mindful or meditating we help to quieten down our mind and calm our bodies. A glitter jar can help to demonstrate this. Look at this short clip below which shows us how being still for a few minutes can quieten our mind.
You could try making a glitter jar for yourself. It is great fun. You wait and watch until all the glitter has settled. Use it anytime you are feeling worried or upset or need to calm down. (Remember to get a grown up to help you!)
You can find instructions by clicking on the link below.
www.firefliesandmudpies.com/glitter-timers/
Also mindful colouring is a great way to focus on the present. Here are some pages you can download for free. If you don’t have a printer, try creating your own design and colouring it or use a colouring book you might have at home.
www.teachingideas.co.uk/2d-art/mindfulness-colouring-images-animals
Breathing can help us to stay present in the now and it is a great way to calm down our bodies and minds. Take a deep breath in through your nose and blow out through your mouth. As if you are blowing out candles on a birthday cake. Your exhale (out breath) should be longer than your inhale (in breath). Try to take as many deep breaths as your age.
There are lots of children’s meditation and mindfulness videos on the internet. Here are a few suggestions. Remember a few minutes every day is all it takes.
There are lots of children’s meditation and mindfulness videos on the internet. Here are a few suggestions. Remember a few minutes every day is all it takes.
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Calm and Headspace are two great meditation apps, that are offering reduced prices and free material during Covid-19. They are great for both grown-ups and children!
Also, Bressie is doing a special Kids Mindfulness Class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm live on Instagram. You can catch up on any of these classes on his Facebook page.
Also, Bressie is doing a special Kids Mindfulness Class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5pm live on Instagram. You can catch up on any of these classes on his Facebook page.
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Weaving Mindfulness is a positive mental wellbeing programme for 8-12 year olds. They have made their Home workbook available to download for free during this time. You can access the programme by clicking here.
adobeindd.com/view/publications/5237deef-2311-469f-9e2d-b5ee89c2000f/1/publication-web-resources/pdf/WWB-At_home_with_WWB_Journal_for_Kids.pdf
adobeindd.com/view/publications/5237deef-2311-469f-9e2d-b5ee89c2000f/1/publication-web-resources/pdf/WWB-At_home_with_WWB_Journal_for_Kids.pdf
